October 2020 Garden Delivery

 

On Saturday October 10 2020, volunteers from Grace Chapel, First Parish and Hancock Church worked with Carla to assemble this early Fall harvest. It included multiple varieties of lettuce, squashes, eggplant, herbs, rhubarb, tomatoes, radishes and more.

Delivering the Harvest

Rolling the carts and harvest down the Minuteman Bike Path to the Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry

Pantry Volunteers

Faithful Lexington Pantry volunteers sorting through and organizing the delivery from the Interfaith Garden.  These Pantry volunteers are helping and delivering!

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Garden Report During a Pandemic – July 2020

We had an opportunity to work along with a few other Hancock Church members on Friday, 7/21st.  As you know we are using Fridays as a “pre-harvest” day. The picture to the left shows some of the results of our pre-harvest.   Everything was added to Saturday’s harvest and sent over to the Pantry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carla has done an amazing job keeping up on everything that needs to get done in this large space, with far less help than usual.  Thank you, Carla!  And thanks to everyone who helps because the hard work is showing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sally is seen adding trimmings to the compost bins.  There are 3 of them, and we carefully fill one before going on to the next.  Generally, by the time the 3rd bin is full, the 1st has degraded and ready to be worked back into the Garden’s soil as compost.

 

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Opening Day Postponed Again

Hi Garden volunteers

A week ago, we pushed back the Interfaith Garden’s opening for 2 weeks until April 4th due to COVID-19. (Was that only a week ago? Wow, it’s seems much longer.) Since then, more information has emerged and significant steps have been taken by state, city and town leaders to slow down the advance of the virus.

At this point, we are thinking of following Governor Baker and are proposing we push back the open of the Garden until after May 4th.

Waiting a few more weeks will give us more information to digest and hopefully we will be on the other side of the virus’ peak. Considering we usually close the Garden in October, that stills leaves a lot of growing time.

Thanks for your ongoing support and patience.

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Opening Day Postponed

A figurative snow storm (COVID-19) has hit our community and like we do for unexpected snowstorms, we close the Garden until the snow melts.  For right now, we think it best to cancel the first 2 weeks of volunteer work days at the garden.  The new opening date is currently penciled in as Saturday, April 4th.    

Carla had already cleaned all the surfaces in the barn and had devised a list of tasks to keep volunteers working separately.   But we keep getting new updates all the time and for right now, we are more comfortable postponing the Garden’s opening day.  We’ve decided keeping our volunteers healthy and safe is our top priority.    

In the meantime, please keep in mind that the prospective needs at the Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry are certain to increase.  If you are concerned for our neighbors who may find it increasingly difficult to put food on the table, perhaps you’d consider donating directly to the Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry.  More information at https://www.lexingtonfoodpantry.org/ There is a donate button at the bottom of the page.

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Harvest Summary, Inception – 2019

Hi everyone-
Officially the garden’s last day was Sat 11/2nd and that last delivery to the food pantry brought the season’s total to 1,883 pounds.  (And that doesn’t include a whole dining-room-table-top-worth of green tomatoes wrapped up waiting to be ripe enough for Carla to drop off!)  This year we asked for about 450 volunteer slots to get filled and most did.  Thanks to each of you!  And special thanks to Carla who annually invests so much of herself in making this garden work.

 

 

Like the garden, we will go quiet over the winter.  Planning for the next season will start again in early 2020.  If you have ideas of other groups who might want to participate, it’s never too early to let me know and maybe we can work together on outreach to them.  Or if you would like to help plan, let me know.

 

I’m frequently asked how much produce comes out of the Interfaith Garden.  This year I am late in giving everyone the final numbers.  Sorry!!  The short answer is that it was a very good year.

 

 

Again, heartfelt thanks to all of you!
Amy
P.S.  Being an interfaith project, it seems appropriate to let you know that everyone is invited to the Lexington Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Tues, 11/26 at 7:30.  This year, St. Brigid’s Church on Mass Ave is hosting.  The theme is gratitude for the earth, and our responsibility to care for it as our home.
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